The Quarantine Archive

by NightmareDash

Rating: everyone
Tags: Adventure, Princess Celestia, Main 6, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Cutie Mark Crusaders, Tragedy, Big Macintosh
Length: 1167

The Mane 6 fight to survive as Ponyville is blanketed in chlorine gas.

When Cloudsdale's water supply is contaminated by industrial runoff, chlorine seems like the natural choice for disinfection. Celestia sends four cars of it to the area, shipping via the Equestrian Railway. Now, chlorine is highly toxic, and, in nature, takes the form of a gas. And when the line breaks down at the one station between the two cities, you have a recipe for disaster.

Meanwhile, Twilight Sparkle is preparing for a busy day of experiments. She's ready to log everything in her daily journal. But the sound of screeching metal interrupts her work, and she and all her friends head out to see the commotion.

Five months later, a decon team from Canterlot discovers Twilight's journal. Adding it to other documents they've recovered, they may be able to piece together just what happened during the Ponyville Quarantine.

"I've found from past experiences that the tighter you plan, the more likely you are to run into something unpredictable."
-MacGyver

This story will be told in the form of various documents (mainly Twilight's journal).

Published 2012-07-13 23:04:02 UTC
Last updated 2012-07-13 23:04:02 UTC

Storm Brewing

Princesses,

The following is a collection of documents, through which we believe we have pieced together the occurances of March 12th, 3027, and the months following. At the end is our final report on the disaster. We submit this for your consideration and royal approval. Thank you.

Sharp Eye

Official Representative

Equestrian Disaster Investigation Unit

Emergency Request from Cloudsdale Branch of Equestrian Environmental Preservation Group, 3-10-3027 A.D.

Dear Princess Celestia,

I am afraid it is not a happy occasion on which I write you. Cloudsdale's main water source, the Pegasiterra Aquifer, has been contaminated with what appears to be industrial runoff from cloud factories. We have run several tests, and the water's quality has become such that it is no longer potable. Emergency stores exist, but they will only last so long. We are investigating which factory (or factories, as the case may be) is responsible, but that is beside the point. If we do not have sufficient decontamination supplies shortly, Cloudsdale will be without water, and we may be forced to evacuate the entire city. Please send help immediately. I cannot understate the urgency of this, but as always, thank you for your consideration.

Eloquence

Branch Head, Cloudsdale Branch

E.E.P.G.

Response from Royal Crown Concerning Above Document, 3-11-3027 A.D.

Eloquence,

Thank you for making me aware of this matter. I understand the magnitude of your situation, and work has already begun to correct it. I have arranged for four tanker cars of pressurized liquid chlorine to be shipped to you via rail on the Cloudsdale Express on the 12th. A team is being flown to Cloudsdale as I write to aid you in its use. They will transport the tanks from the train and use them to disinfect the aquifer. Your water may taste a little funny for the next month or so, but it will be safe to drink. Even in times of crisis you live up to your name. Your actions will not be forgotten when this problem is solved.

Sincerely yours,

Princess Celestia

Excerpt from Manifest, Cloudsdale Express, 3-12-3027 A.D.

Car 4: Box car, loaded with 100 crates, each labeled "Machine Parts"
Owner: Umbrella Corporation
Special Notes: Some crates labeled "Sensitive", "Fragile", or "Handle With Care". No further elaboration by owner as to contents.

Cars 5-8: Tankers, containing highly-compressed liquid chlorine
Owner: Royal Monarchy of Equestria
Special Notes: Hazardous materials. Sent on emergency order of Princess Celestia. Order notes "For disinfection of Pegasiterra Aquifer, which was recently contaminated by Cloudsdale industrial runoff."

Car 9: Box car, no contents
Owner: Currently leased by Flim-Flam Enterprises
Special Notes: Several unidentified ponies seen around car, suspected freighthoppers.

Maintenance Request, Ponyville Central Railyard, 3-10-3027 A.D.

MAINTENANCE REQUEST
Filer: Iron Hide
Line: B
Concerning: Railroad Switch B1
Details: Inspection reveals that switch motor is prone to power surges, causing track to shift without switch activation. Shift separates main line from subline B1, a dead-end track with holds an emergency hoove-cart. Recommend that all rail traffic be diverted from Line B until switch motor in question repaired or replaced.

Emergency Order to Ponyville Central Rainyard, 3-11-3027 A.D.

EMERGENCY ORDER
To Station: Ponyville Central Railyard (PCR)
Concerning: Cloudsdale Express, 3-12-3027 A.D.
From: Royal Monarchy of Equestria
Instructions: Tomorrow's Cloudsdale Express, from Canterlot, is carrying a vital load of chlorine disinfectant to Cloudsdale. As you may or may not be aware, the Pegasiterra Aquifer, Cloudsdale's main water source, has been contaminated with industrial runoff. These tanks are required for decontamination. Please maintain clearance on a line so that this train may pass through the station without delay.

Response to Above Document, 3-11-3027 A.D.

Message recieved and understood. Please inform the conductor of tomorrow's Cloudsdale Express that Line B shall be left open for his use. We will temporarily suspend speed restrictions in the yard for his passage, given the nature of his journey. He may pass through at full speed.

Entry from Journal of Ponyville Resident Twilight Sparkle, 3-11-3027 A.D.

Journal Entry, March 11th, 3027

Tomorrow is the big day! I've cleared my schedule, and everything is prepared. I'm going to go all out with my chemistry experiments. There are several mysteries I've been just dying to figure out, and I'll have all day to do it. I'm particularly interested to toy with the sodium I've acquired; I only just got it from Canterlot. Preliminary tests show it to be very reactive with water. Remind me to keep it away from Rainbow Dash. She'd probably throw it in the lake just to watch something go "boom". Or she might drench my house with rain and wait for a leak. I mean, I trust her and all, but when you put her around dangerous chemicals and potential explosives, she can only go for so long without doing something stupid. I know Pinkie's supposed to be the crazy one, but at least she knows not to mess around with stuff like this. Speaking of which, she's been house-sitting for the Cakes while they're at the beach in Mareami. The fact that the place hasn't fallen in on itself is a testimony to her growing maturity. I'd say Celestia should expect another letter from her sometime soon.

It's the peak of apple season, and Applejack couldn't be happier. The other day, she told me that this year's crop was expected to be the best yet. Unfortunately, that also means I'm very lucky to see her away from the farm. She and Big Mac have been working double-time to bring in the harvest, and I hear Applebloom even brought in Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo to work at it. She and her little group of friends are as passionate as ever to obtain their Cutie Marks, and if working on a farm feeds their passion, I'm happy for them to try. The funny thing is that their talents are right in front of them, but they don't see it! I wonder how long they'll go until they realize that.

Rarity has also sequestered herself in work. Apparently, she's being called on by some of her friends from Canterlot to create their fashions for this year's gala. I hope she is able to make it work, especially after seeing what the stress did to her last year. Maybe this will be the boom she's been waiting for. She is holding small shows and exhibitions, and Fluttershy has reluctantly returned to modeling for her. But Fluttershy's real interest has always stayed with her animals. She says they've been acting nervously lately, like they know something bad is about to happen. They aren't as reliable or precise as the Pinkie Sense, but according to Fluttershy, we should ignore them at our own peril. But she can't interpret their nervousness beyond "something bad is going to happen", so I'm not sure. I've had some success calming her down, and it's probably nothing, anyway. Regardless, I don't plan to let her worrying ruin my wonderful plans for tomorrow.

Twilight Sparkle